Number of ophthalmic practitioners by health board

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Standard shorthand is used in this table: [t] = total, [x] = not available.

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Data valuesData descriptionDateAreaMeasure
37 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
51 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
88 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists
37Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
51Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Swansea Bay University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
98 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
43 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
55 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
98 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists
43Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
55Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
157 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
66 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
91 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
157 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists
66Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
91Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
176 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
62 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
114 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
176 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists
62Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
114Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2020Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
922 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
401 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
521 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
918 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesOptometrists
397 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesOptometrists - Male
521 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesOptometrists - Female
4 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
4 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021WalesOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
260 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
136 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
124 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
258 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists
134Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
124Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
2 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
2Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
37 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
18 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
19 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
37 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists
18Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
19Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
105 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
53 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
52 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
103 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists
51Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
52Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
2 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
2Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
95 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
39 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
56 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
95 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists
39Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
56Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Swansea Bay University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
104 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
45 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
59 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
104 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists
45Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
59Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
167 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
69 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
98 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
167 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists
69Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
98Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
0 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Male
0Number of Examinations31/03/2021Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOphthalmic Medical Practitioners - Female
192 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
67 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2021Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
Showing 901 to 1,000 of 1,282 rows
Page 10 of 13

Main information

Most recent update
30 September 2025
Next update expected
September 2026
Designation
Official statistics
Data provider 1
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Data source 1
Ophthalmic List
Data provider 2
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Data source 2
Ophthalmic Supplementary List
Data provider 3
NHS England
Data source 3
No specific source from data provider
Time period covered
December 1996 to March 2025

Data notes

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset shows the number (headcount) of optometrists working in primary care in Wales. It includes optometrists, student optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners, broken down by local health board, sex, and year. For years up to 2019, the data reflects headcounts as at 31 December, and from 2020 onwards, as at 31 March.

Data collection or calculation

Figures for the optometry workforce are reported as of 31 December each year for 2019 and earlier, and as of 31 March for 2020 and subsequent years, due to different data sources being used. For years up to 2019, figures are sourced from NHS Digital’s publication, which reflects practitioners authorised by local health boards to perform NHS-funded sight tests, based on data from the Central Ophthalmic Payments system. This data collection ceased after 2019. For 2020 and beyond, data is sourced from the performers’ list (Ophthalmic List and Ophthalmic Supplementary List), a register of ophthalmic practitioners who can practise in Wales, maintained by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership. Data from the two sources are collected differently and are not exactly comparable. As the same person could be listed across more than one health board, the headcount is based on a unique count of registration numbers in each health board. Therefore, health board numbers may not necessarily add up to the figure for Wales. Note for 2023 onwards, totals include unknown gender.

Statistical quality

Data from 2020 onwards are not directly comparable with earlier years due to changes in data source and reference period. From 2023 onwards, totals also include cases with unknown gender. Primary care workforce figures are based on the ophthalmic performers list, which can temporarily include optometrists who have stopped working. This may lead to a slight overestimate of the active workforce. Following the introduction of WGOS, improved validation has led to more timely and systematic removal of inactive performers, which is likely to explain the decrease in 2024. There is also a requirement for student optometrists to be listed in the Supplementary Ophthalmic List (SOL), and therefore, data for student optometrists are available from 2024 onwards. On 1 April 2019, health service responsibility for Bridgend residents moved from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg to Cwm Taf. Health board names also changed: Cwm Taf became Cwm Taf Morgannwg, and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg became Swansea Bay. See the weblinks section for official statements.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.healthinfo@gov.wales

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